Local fishermen get BFAR gear

CEBU, Philippines – The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources-7 and the Mandaue City government yesterday turned over fishing gear to three local fishermen to help them catch more and augment their income in the process.

Vice Mayor Glenn Bercede, Provincial Senior Agriculturist Pedro Milana Jr., and city agriculture officials handed the fish nets, hook-and-line and other fishing gear worth P7,000 each to Leonardo Dejame, 41, of Barangay Looc; Alfredo Agong, 59, of Barangay Labogon; and Zoma Villapane, 41, of Barangay Paknaan.

The three are members of their respective fishing associations.

"Makakuha na mi karon og dagko nga isda, salamat gyud kaayo," Dejame said.

He said their usual catch is composed of small fishes like "hinok" and "lawayan,” but with the new gear they have, he expects to catch "danggit,” "gutob,” and other bigger fishes in the sea.

Except for Zoma, the beneficiaries have paddle boats. Zoma's boat was reportedly destroyed by a flashflood last year. Her family, however, lives on what little she gets from hook-and-line fishing, using a rented or borrowed boat.

The fishers were, however, worried of the illegal cyanide fishing which has resulted to a low fish catch.

To this, local agriculture officials have assured them that their Bantay Dagat will help address the problem.

In a statement read by Bercede, Mayor Jonas Cortes expressed his thanks to BFAR for the activity.

"I would like to thank the Bureau (BFAR) for being sensitive to the needs of the least of our brothers. Teaching them how to fish and capacitating them is one way of helping them effectively address their problems," Cortes said.

"Kamong mananagat adunay dakong gimbuhaton. Ang atong dagat usa ka gasa sa Kahitas-an ug kita mga piniyalan lamang busa ato kining panggaon ug panalipdan tungod kay nagkagamay ang atong kuha gumikan sa illegal nga panagat ug climate change," he added.

The beneficiaries were picked from the government's list of recipients of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), which the local agriculture office had cross-checked before giving the approval.  (FREEMAN)